Seven members of the Canadiens have memories of the NHL-imposed lockout of eight years ago. Four of them rode out the dispute with European teams, the other three played in North America, two in the AHL and the other, Scott Gomez in his hometown of Anchorage Alaska.
Because of the injury to Brian Gionta, which took him out of the seaason’s second half, right wing on the Canadiens became a serious problem. Gionta’s replacements were a mixture of rookies and fourth line players and the results were predictable. Gionta returns next season but the Canadiens still have a major third line iissue to deal with.
After winning four of the six monthly segments, Carey Price is the Canadiens Molson Cup winner for the 2011-2012 season. Erik Cole finished second and Max Pacioretty third in voting based on fan three star voting throughout the season. Cole was named the monthly winner for March.
At season’s end Carey Price will probably win the Molson Cup as the Canadiens most valuable player but the player who has had the greatest impact has been Erik Cole. Cole heads into the All-Star break as the team leader in goals, points and plus/minus rating. At a cap hit of 4.5 million dollars over four years, Cole is the free agent bargain of the year..
In an eventful day at the Canadiens Brossard training centre. Brian Gionta probably will return to the Canadiens lineup tomafter missing eleven games. Alexei Emelin in hit in the face with a Yannick Weber slapshot, in the same area where he suffered a serious injury when he was playing the KHL. Krys Barch of Florida Panthers gets a slap on the wrist for what, in the end, were very mild comments directed at the Canadiens P.K. Subban. And the NHL players association says “no” to league re-alignment.
The Canadiens made a big trade, would up with four of a possible six points thanks to the NHL’s reward for losing. Michael Cammalleri’s effect on the play of Tomas Plekanec, scoring chances, Alexei Emelin and more. Talking points on a Canadiens off-day.
Among other things on our Sunday review – Max Pacioretty has an appointment NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan Monday morning. The league will also be talking to the game officials about the way Saturday night’s Pittsburgh game ended. The Canadiens penalty killers make news and the Hamilton Bulldogs are worse off than the Canadiens in the injury department.
Andrei Markov in Florida having his knee checked; Tomas Plekanec-star of the week, Josh Gorges-babysitter, Erik Cole, Travis Moen, Andreas Engqvist, Bournival injured and more. All making news in the first week of the Canadiens 2011-2012 season.
The Canadiens returned to Montreal after last night’s loss in Toronto. The team practiced at their Brossard facility this morning. Tomorrow they head for Winnipeg for Sunday’s meeting with the Jets. Among off-day talking points, Lars Eller, Erik Cole, Chris Campoli, Joe Callahan and too-many-men-on-the-ice,
The Canadiens play their eighth and final exhibition game tonight at the Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City looking for only their second win. With a couple of exceptions, they will be icing the team that will be opening the season next Thursday.
